J. EDMUND BARNES

PHOTO: From left, Mona, Nicholas and Sean Roussel watch the St. Charles Catholic Comets play the West St. John Rams at the Hahnville Jamboree Friday night.(Staff Photo by J. Edmund Barnes) HAHNVILLE – To see the strength of River Parish Football, one should come out the Jamborees. There, on two nights out of the year, one can watch every team in the area butt heads for preseason bragging rights while their coaches make minute adjustments to tweak their teams in preparation for the next week’s official opener. No team earns a W’ or has an L’ marked against them. It is truly football just for fun. One of the many River Parish residents present at Hahnville High School stadium on Friday night was Sean Roussel. Sean was joined by his wife Mona and their son Nicholas. Sean was wearing a St. Charles Comets baseball cap, and when asked said he was a former Comet football player. “Oh, yeah. I miss it,” he said, referring to playing high school football. Roussel and his family were at the game to watch his nephew Blake Roussel play football. Blake Roussel, a freshman linebacker for the Comets, didn’t see any playing time, but his family was there to support him anyway. Sean Roussel, who graduated in 1987, played open guard for the Comets. His fondest memory of high school football was in his junior year. The Comets were playing West St. John at Edgard and eeked out a victory on the very last play by kicking a field goal. Roussel said he was impressed by the improvement the Comets were showing from last year’s 3-7 season. “They had a lot of close games last year,” said Roussel. “Hopefully the program can pull out other close games.” Roussel has been watching his nephew play football since he was in grammar school. “He’s asked me a bunch of questions about what to expect. I’ve been just listening to him an encouraging him,” said Roussel. “The first piece of advice I gave him was to hit or be hit. Deliver the hit first. “They will hit you. If you’re going to mess up, mess up full speed ahead,” he said. Sean Roussel’s high school sweetheart Mona was watching the game with him. “My niece is a cheerleader,” said Mona Roussel. “(Cheerleading) is something she’s always wanted to do.” Mona Roussel said she remembers watching Sean play football back in high school. “We were pretty successful my senior year,” said Mona Roussel. “I make at least one or two games now that he (her son Nicholas) is at an age when he’s going to be interested.” Nicholas Roussel was already enthralled with the game. “I’m going to play when I get big,” he said.